The Society of Filipino Film Reviewers (SFFR) has announced the nominees for the 5th Pinoy Rebyu Awards, and two of 2024’s most acclaimed Filipino films—”Tumandok” and “Isang Himala”—emerge as frontrunners with seven nominations each. These two acclaimed works, which have already captured the attention of critics and audiences alike, now stand at the forefront of this year’s prestigious awards ceremony.
Both films, which ranked first and second respectively on The Movie Buff critic Paul Enicola’s Top 10 Films of Philippine Cinema in 2024, continue their dominance in Philippine cinema. A Cinemalaya standout, “Tumandok” explores the struggles of the indigenous Ati people of Western Visayas. The film is nominated for Best Film, Best Director (Richard Jeroui Salvadico and Arlie Sweet Sumagaysay), Best Screenplay, Best Lead Performance (Jenaica Sangher), Best First Feature, and two technical categories (Cinematography and Film Score). Naming “Tumandok” the best Philippine movie of 2024, Enicola expressed his admiration for the film’s raw storytelling, calling it “a melding of narrative fiction and the urgency of documentary filmmaking.”
Meanwhile, “Isang Himala,” the musical reimagining of Ishmael Bernal’s 1982 film “Himala,” has garnered nominations for Best Film, Best Director (Pepe Diokno), Best Supporting Performance (Kakki Teodoro), Best Ensemble, as well as technical nods for Cinematography, Production Design, and Film Score. Enicola complimented Diokno for his ability to “blend the intimacy of theater with the grandeur of cinema,” resulting in a movie “that feels timeless yet urgent.”
Other Critically Acclaimed Films Earn Key Nominations
Several other films from The Movie Buff list have also received recognition from SFFR. The Netflix film “Outside,” which earned a nomination for Best Lead Performance (Sid Lucero), received praise for its “meditation on survival, trauma, and the fragility of familial bonds.”
Even in the documentary category, a standout from our critic’s list—Chuck Escasa‘s “Ghosts of Kalantiaw”—received a nomination for Best Documentary Feature. Enicola previously commended it as a chilling, thought-provoking investigation that questions not only the nature of history; but also the dichotomy of truth and objectivity, and their complicated relationship with cultural identity.
Several other films from The Movie Buff’s list also received nominations for the 5th Pinoy Rebyu Awards. Among them are the stirring documentary “Alipato at Muog,” and the Manila International Film Festival-bound “Green Bones.”
About Pinoy Rebyu Awards
Now in its fifth year, the Pinoy Rebyu Awards celebrate the best achievements in Philippine cinema of 2024. For eligibility, the 39-member organization considered for nomination all films released in the calendar year in at least one cinema in the Philippines or on a largely and legally accessible streaming service between January 1 and December 31, 2024. The winners will be announced on March 8, 2025.
For the full list of nominees, check out the official SFFR announcement here. Meanwhile, follow us here at The Movie Buff for further coverage of the best of Philippine cinema.
